VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds men's soccer team are undefeated with four key games remaining in the regular season. This weekend they will go up against the defending CIS Champions from Victoria at home on Friday night, and then play host to UFV Cascades Saturday night at 7:00 pm. Both games are at Thunderbird Stadium. The Saturday match was originally scheduled for Chilliwack's Exhibition Field but it has been closed due to flooding.
UBC has already clinched a playoff spot, but this weekend could potentially see them lock up first place in the Pacific Division of Canada West soccer. To do this, UBC needs to win both games and hope that Trinity Western University suffer a draw or a defeat. Trinity currently sits in second place and also plays against UFV and UVIC this weekend. If not, the battle for first place will come down to the final weekend of the regular season, which features a home-and-away doubleheader between Trinity and UBC.
UBC Thunderbirds (9-0-1, 28 points)
Last week: 2-2 tie vs. Alberta, 2-0 W vs. Saskatchewan
The Thunderbirds' win streak ended at 8 games when they gave up a late goal to Alberta last Saturday, allowing the Golden Bears to tie the game with ten minutes remaining. UBC had fought back from an early 1-0 deficit but couldn't quite hold on for the win. The two rivals walked away with a point each, the lapse costing UBC two points. They would make no mistakes the following day against Saskatchewan, controlling the match right from the start with first half goals from
Steve Johnson (Tsawwassen, BC) and
Greg Smith (North Vancouver, BC) putting the game away.
Richard Meister (Port Moody, BC) collected the shutout in net, the sixth clean sheet of the year for the Thunderbirds. It was a quiet weekend for Canada West scoring leader Gagandeep Dosanjh (Abbotsford, BC). He had 5 goals and 2 assists in a doubleheader against UNBC over Thanksgiving, so look for him to get back on the scoreboard again this weekend.
UVIC Vikes (5-3-2, 17 points)
Last week: bye week
The Vikes had last weekend off after a home-and-away set against UFV over Thanksgiving weekend. In the doubleheader, UVIC surrendered a 2-2 tie on the road, but came back to win 2-1 at home. The defending CIS champs have struggled this season, a surprise to all those who ranked them first in a preseason CIS poll. After maintaining first place in the rankings for the opening two weekends of the season, week 3 saw them suffer losses to Trinity and UBC and subsequently vanish from the top 10 poll ever since. Midfield duo Craig Gorman (Victoria, BC) and Craig Taylor (Victoria, BC) are bright spots for the Vikes this season. They are tied for fourth in Canada West soccer with five goals apiece and will look to get past UBC's stifling defence.
UFV Cascades (3-3-4, 13 points)
Last week: 3-0 W vs. UNBC, 2-0 W vs. UNBC
The Cascades picked up two wins on the road last weekend against the winless UNBC Timberwolves. In a well-rounded team effort, five different players contributed goals in 3-0, 2-0 shutout victories. While UFV are not yet mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, they would likely need to come up with two big wins against UBC and Trinity this weekend in order to stay alive.
GAME TIMES
Friday, October 19
th vs. UVIC Vikes – 7 p.m. at Thunderbird Stadium (Vancouver, BC)
Saturday, October 20
th vs UFV Cascades – 7:00 p.m. at Thunderbird Stadium (Vancouver, BC)
Tickets for UBC Thunderbirds home games are $10 for adults, $5 for youth/seniors/UBC staff/visiting students, and just $2 for UBC students and UNA members. Kids under 6 get in for free!
Live statistics can be accessed at
www.canadawest.tv.
